Bobbin-clutching means for rotatable spindles.



No; 772,584. v PATENTED 602B.- 18, 1904. 0. A. SMITH.

- BOBBIN GLUTOHING MEANS FOR ROTAT-ABLB SPINDLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25,1904.

N0 MODEL.

lratented Octooer 18, 1904.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SMITH, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SAWYER SPINDLE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BOBBlN-CLUTCHING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,584, dated October 18, 1904.

Application filed July 25, 1904. Serial No. 217,918. (No model.)

To alllwhoml it may concern.-

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Mas sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bobbin-Clutching Means for Rotatable Spindles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of novel bobbin-clutching means of the centrifugally-acting type adapted to be used in connection with rotatable spinning, twisting, or similar spindles, whereby the yarn receiver or bobbin can be easily applied to or removed from the spindle and when in position thereon is securely held and rotated with the spindle.

Figure 1 is a vertical diametralsection ofa bobbin-clutch embodying my present invention applied to a rotatable spindle having an attached whirl. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking down. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clutching means,

. the spindle-blade being broken oil and the bobbin omitted; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the clutching means, the whirl being broken off. i

In the present embodiment of my invention a rotatable spindle A is driven tightly into an elongated cylindrical sleeve or head 1, shown as having an annular external shoulder 2 at its lower end to form a bobbin-rest. A tubular extension 3 below the latter connects a whirl 4 with the head, and herein the head, extension 3, and whirl A are shown as integral. The head is provided with a series of cylindrical, elongated, and upright seats 5, symmetrically arranged around the spindle and intersecting the periphery of the head to present side openings 6, said seats being formed by drilling into the head from its fiat upper end. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the lower ends of the seats are reduced in diameter, as at 7, by the use of a smaller drilling-tool, and into the seats are loosely placed the clutching members. Each of'said members consists of anelongated body portion or roll 8, circular in cross-section and preferably rounded at its upper end, as at 9, and having its opposite end providedwith an extension 10 I of considerably smaller diameter, also preferably rounded at its extremity. The external diameter of the body portion or roll 8 is greater than the width of the side openings 6 of the seats in the head, so that the clutch members can project part way through such openings when moved outward by centrifugal action to effect driving engagement with the walls of the chamber Z) of the bobbin, Fig. 1, and indicated by the dotted circle in Fig. 2.

' Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the spindle-like extensions 10 of the clutching members are much smaller than the bottoms 7 of the seats, thereby permitting a tipping movement of the members, so that their upper ends can project farther through the openings 6 than can their lower ends. This causes the clutching members to lie firmly against the walls of the chamber 6 (such walls being flared toward their upperend) to hold the bobbin down upon the bobbinrest 2.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the rapid rotation of the spindle causes the clutching members to be thrown outward by centrifugal action into driving engagement withvthe bobbin, such radial movement being limited and controlled by the edges of the openings 6, which overlap the clutching members. The latter are maintained a predetermined distance apart by the seats 5, and are also caused thereby to rotate bodily with the spindle, the clutching action between the members 8 and .a bobbin being wholly dependent upon centrifugal force, rendering doiiing of a bobbin from a rotating spindle a very easy matter requiring no hard pulling or twisting.

A cap 12 has a convex external surface and surmounts the flat upper end of the head 2, closing the upper ends of the seats 5 and preventing any tendency of the clutching members to lift out of the seats.

The convexed surface of the cap also serves as a guide to direct the bobbin downward over the head when applied to the spindle.

.Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of a plurality of elongated, radially-movable, centrifugally-acting bobbin-clutching members circular in cross-section and arranged symmetrically around the spindle, and means attached to the latter to retain and permit limited radial movement of said members and prevent lateral movement thereof.

2. The combination with a rotatable spindle of a plurality of elongated, radially-movable, centrifugally-acting bobbin-clutching members circular in cross-section and arranged symmetrically around the spindle, and means attached to the latter to support and laterally position said members, the said means having upright cylindrical seats open at their outer sides, to loosely receive the clutching members and permit the same to be projected by centrifugal action part way through the side openings of the seats into driving engagement With a bobbin.

3. The combination with a rotatable spindle of a plurality of elongated, radially-movable, centrifugally-acting bobbin-clutching members circular in cross-section and arranged symmetrically around the spindle, a sleeve surrounding and attached to the spindle and having upright cylindrical seats therein intersecting its periphery, to present side openings, the clutching members being loosely held in the seats and adapted to project part Way through the side openings by centrifugal action, and a cap to close the upper ends of the seats and prevent lifting of the clutching members therefrom.

4. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of an upturned cylindrical head secured to and surrounding the spindle and having upright cylindrical seats therein intersecting its periphery and symmetrically arranged around the spindle, an annular bobbin-rest on the loWer end of said head, cylindrical bobbinclutching members loosely held in the seats and adapted to be moved'outward by centrifugal action and project part way through the side openings of the seats to ell'eet driving engagement with a bobbin. and means to prevent removal of said clutching members from the seats.

5. The combination with a rotatable spindle having an attached cylindrical head provided with a bobbin-rest, and a whirl at its lower end, said head having a series of upright eylindrical seats therein intersecting its periphcry to present side openings and reduced in diameter at their lower ends, of bobbin-clntehing rolls loosely held in said seats and each having its lower end reduced to enter loosely the contracted bottoms of the seats, to permit outward and tipping movement of the rolls by the action of centrifugal force, the rolls at such time projecting part way through the side openings of the seats, and a cap to close the upper, open ends of the seats.

6. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of a plurality of elongated, radially-movable, centrifugally-acting bobbin-clutching members circular in cross-section and arranged syn'imetrically around the spindle, a bobbinrest attached to the spindle and having an upturned cylindrical head concentric with the spindle the head being provided with upright cylindrical seats intersecting its periphery to present side openings, the clutching members being loosely held in the seats and adapted to project part way through the side openings thereof to efi'ect driving engagement with a bobbin, and means to permit said clutching members to tip in the seats.

.7. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of a plurality of bobbin-clutching rolls mounted thereon and radially movable by cenla'ifugal action into driving engagement with a bobbin, and means to limit such radial movement and maintain the said rolls a predetermined distance apart.

In testimony whereof .l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. SMITH Vitnesses:

Gnonon O'rrs Dnixrun, FRANK E. Donen, Jr. 

